More than 200 attendees joined leading local employers and support agencies at the Agri‑Food Careers Fair held on Tuesday 10 March 2026 in the Armagh City Hotel, marking a highly successful showcase of career opportunities across one of the borough’s most important sectors.
The event was delivered in partnership between Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council’s award‑winning Food Heartland initiative and the ABC Labour Market Partnership (LMP), funded by the Department for Communities. Labour Market Partnerships create targeted employment action plans for council areas, allowing for collaboration at local and regional level to support people towards and into work.
With the ABC borough home to one of Northern Ireland’s most significant rural populations, agriculture and agri‑food continue to play a central role in the area’s economy. The Careers Fair builds on the ambitions of the Council’s pioneering Agriculture Strategy, launched in 2022 – the first of its kind in Northern Ireland – designed to support farmers, agri‑food businesses and the next generation of industry professionals.
The fair welcomed students from Banbridge Academy, St Patrick’s Grammar Armagh, Lurgan College, Dromore High School, St Patrick’s High School Keady and City of Armagh High School, along with school leavers and job seekers alike. They had the opportunity to meet face‑to‑face with employers, training providers and sector bodies, offering insights into live vacancies, apprenticeships, further education routes and specialist career pathways.
Lord Mayor of Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon, Alderman Stephen Moutray, praised the event’s strong turnout and impact: “The success of the Agri‑Food Careers Fair highlights just how powerful partnership working can be. Bringing together hundreds of students, job seekers, employers and training providers in one space has created an invaluable platform for people to explore new opportunities and gain real insight into the breadth of careers available across the agri‑food sector.
“It was particularly encouraging to see such strong engagement from key education and skills partners like CAFRE, AFBI and Southern Regional College, who showcased the many accessible routes into further learning, apprenticeships and specialist roles. Their contribution is essential as we continue to build a skilled and sustainable workforce for the future.”
Mrs McTernaghan, Head of Food and Nutrition at Lurgan College said: “I wanted to extend my sincere thanks on behalf of Lurgan College and the Food & Nutrition Department for the outstanding Agri Food Careers Fair. The event was exceptionally well organised, welcoming and highly engaging for our pupils from start to finish. Our students commented on how valuable it was to hear first‑hand about apprenticeships, qualifications, and the day‑to‑day realities of different roles.
“For many of our pupils, the fair provided a meaningful link between their classroom learning and real career pathways, and several have already expressed an interest in following up with specific organisations.”
The success of this Agri-Food Career’s Fair looks set to ensure a follow up event next year, however until then, the next LMP multi-sector job fair will be held on Wednesday 27 May at Millennium Court, Portadown from 11am–2pm.
To learn more about the work of the Labour Market Partnership and upcoming employment initiatives, visit: www.armaghbanbridgecraigavon.gov.uk/lmp. To learn more about the Food Heartland initiative, visit www.foodheartland.com.
